Sunday, June 29, 2003

We are less than a week from one of the most important Holidays of ourNation, so it is time to remember ...

4TH OF JULY

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signedthe Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and torturedbefore they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons servingin the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of theRevolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and theirsacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine werefarmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, butthey signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that thepenalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his Shipsswept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and propertiesto pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to movehis family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, &his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, &poverty was his reward.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the BritishGeneral Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.

He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home wasdestroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailedhis wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laidto waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returninghome to find his wife dead and his children vanished. Some of us takethese liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday andsilently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price theypaid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

########80-20 distributed 4000 flags to supporters in CA, TX, OH, NY, MA..., etc. in June. They are organizing "Seas of Flags" events. Huge"Seas of Flags" events are planned in Houston and Oakland. If youare in those vicinities, please go join those events.

What if people see Seas of American flags on July 4th, when theydrive through areas known for concentration of APAs? Will itchange a lot of minds that APAs are foreigners?

You bet your life, it would.

Please join 80-20, if you have not already. Basic member: $35,Family (2 votes): $50, and Life Member: $1000. Any US citizen orpermanent resident can be a member, using a credit card, visithttp://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html orhttp://www.80-20.info/membership.html.PERSONAL checks are payable to "80-20 PAC", mailed to:Jing-Li Yu80-20 special Assistant43-34 Union St., Apt. 6-dFlushing, NY 11355-7042Write down your E-MAIL address & PHONE no. on the BACK of thecheck.

The California Senate voted unanimously on June 2 to condemnremarks by Congressman Howard Coble (R-N.C.) regarding theJapanese American internment and called for him to resign as chairof the House Sub-committee on Homeland Security. The resolutionwas introduced by APILC. The California Assembly took the sameaction about 2 weeks earlier.

A copy of the resolution will now be sent to every member of Congressand every member of North Carolina's Legislature and the Governor.

80-20 didn't get much respect from GOP in the 2000 presidentialelection. However, things seem to be changing. John Tsu who willchair the "Asian Am. & Pacific Islanders for Bush/Cheney 2004" statedduring the press conference announcing its formation that 80-20might join this campaign organization after 80-20's EndorsementConvention.

While the statement is technically true, it is not news. 80-20 is just aslikely to support the Democratic presidential nominee after 80-20'sEndorsement Convention. The nominee of the major political partythat has performed more good deeds for our community in thepreceding 4 years gets 80-20's endorsement.

What is news is that Prof. Tsu, by working in 80-20's name in the pressconference, is recognizing 80-20's unique power to deliver a bloc vote.What a difference that 4 years make!

80-20's growing prestige in the political arena is due to ALL OF YOUwho sacrificed your money and time to nurture 80-20. Keep upwith your history-making support.

C) Our interns are recruiting members very successfully. Thus farPaul Jung, an intern from the Korea American community, hasrecruited the most members.

D) Prof. Jerry Yang, an 80-20 Board Member was honored by theAsian Am. Heritage Foundation of NJ, which was founded many yearsago by Dr. Steven Ko, another 80-20 Board member.

Monday, June 09, 2003

##### Seeking a Father's Day gift? A flag with a holder & haveit installed for him. DISPLAY OUR FLAG on July 4th !! #######

Dear 80-20 Supporters:

One of our Chang-Lin Tien interns, Sherry Zhang of NJ willbe interviewed on The Voice of America, VOA -- live broadcastto China from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. E.C.T. on 6/11.

Here is how it came about.

As interns for 80-20, they undergo two weeks of intense training.After that they'll go into our community to recruit members for 80-20.The purpose is to let them learn how to organize which is theessence of politics. Part of the training is for each intern to try geta press release about their joining 80-20 into their respective localpapers. What follows best illustrates how "A little spark can start aprairie fire."

1) 80-20 issued a press release in English and urged each internto try get it published in his/her local papers,2) Sherry Zhang translated the release into Chinese and submittedit to various news outlets in her locality as did other interns,3) The Chinesenewsnet among other media published the translatedrelease,4) VOA saw the news on Chinesenewsnet, and contacted Sherry,5) Sherry accepted the invitation to go on live in VOA's broadcast toChina on 6/11 at 7:30-8:00 a.m., E.C.T.

So that's our 80-20's interns, OUR young lions are at work andplay. Getting a press release about oneself published and then gettinginterviewed by VOA in a live broadcast to China is certainly work andfun. One of our interns may try to recruit you as an 80-20 membersoon. Please respond generously.

This internship program will continue next year. Offspring of 80-20 members will be given preference, other considerations beingequal.

If you are already a member, Thank you. Otherwise, please join asa Basic member ($35; one vote) or Family member ($50; two votes), orLife member ($1,000). Any US citizen or permanent resident can be amember using a credit card, visithttp://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html orhttp://www.80-20.info/membership.html .PERSONAL checks are payable to "80-20 PAC", mailed to:Jing-Li Yu80-20 special Assistant43-34 Union St., Apt. 6-dFlushing, NY 11355-7042Write down your E-MAIL address & PHONE no. on the BACK of thecheck.